Page 80 of Shiver

I muster up the best eye roll I can manage as we head down the hall toward our room, but before we get there, Luca’s large hand wraps around mine, pulling me into his chest. A breath gets knocked out of my lungs as I steady a palm on his hard chest to balance myself.

He brings his lips an inch from mine, his warm, minty breath coasting over my lips and sending a chill through me. The tip of his nose drags slowly down the bridge of mine, and I see his eyes dilate when I peer up into them, unable to step out of this trance.

Luca closes the distance, and just as our lips are about to meet, he pulls away entirely, dragging me along behind him as he chuckles. Poorly contained anger trickles through me.I just got played.

“Don’t be angry, Samara,” he chides softly. “I just had to prove to you that you want me as badly as I want you, but I’m not going to be the one to make the next move. You’re the only one hung up here, soyouhave to be the one to make the decision. I won’t make it for you,” he explains, gently squeezing my hand.

What the hell?When exactly had Luca decided he wanted something other than sex with me?

It appears I fully dropped the ball on this one.

Chapter sixty-four

Luca

Ican’t help the smug grin plastered across my face right now. I’ve been stewing all morning over Samara being on this date. While I had absolutely started to come to terms with the fact that I no longer wanted this relationship to be fake, I hadn’t anticipated just how fucking jealous I’d be when I watched her leave this morning for brunch with another man.

And when I saw him coming in for a kiss, I wanted to body-slam the fucker, but seeing her turn her face away made lightning strike right through the center of my goddamn heart. I’mhappythat he just wasn’t doing it for her. And even more than that, I’melatedthat apparently,I do.

That simple factalmostwashes away the last bit of contempt I’m still holding onto that his lips got to touch a single part of her.

“Come on, princess, let’s get changed. We’re meeting your family.” I smirk.

She looks at me warily, releasing a groan. “For what?”

“It’s a surprise,” I tell her, grinning.

“Luca, I thought we’d already established that I don’t like surprises.”

I tap my chin, pretending to mull this over. “Yeah, ya know, I really don’t think we everdidestablish that. And too bad because we’re going. Besides, it seemed youreallyenjoyed yesterday’s surprise.”

She flips me off, stomping into the room the moment we get to our door.God, I love it when she’s cranky.It just means I get to watch her perfect ass as she leaves.

***

We spend the day enjoying the sun with Samara’s parents, Vea, and her family.

The weather’s been gorgeous, but despite everything I could be looking at right now, considering thisisa glass-bottom boat tour, I still can’t keep my eyes off Samara.

Her deep chestnut coils are blowing in the wind, and with my sunglasses on, I get to outright stare at her. I take in her every feature. The way the sun highlights her high cheekbones and how her denim shorts hug her thighs.

She’s been doing a good job at ignoring her family’s comments while we’ve been out here, and I imagine it must be the only way she can truly enjoy her vacation. Just ignoring them and letting them roll off her.

Unfortunately, I don’t find it that easy.

Even if I don’t show it, I’ve always been someone who internalizes every comment made about me. And right now, I’m holding onto every ill word her family speaks of her.

Chapter sixty-five

Samara

A note from the author: Please click the hyperlink at the end of this message. It contains a Spotify link for all four songs included in this chapter, in the order they should be played. I’ve done this so you’re able to play the music and fully immerse yourselves without leaving to click on each hyperlink. These were written with the average reading rate and the distraction the music would cause in mind. Readers are intended to listen to the music in the background as they imagine this scene. I hope you enjoy reading it!<31

This day has been a complete whirlwind. I’m not sure what to make of it, and while I was expecting to be ready to get home by now, I’m not.

We are having a fairly late dinner, and by the time we finish up, it’s already getting dark out.

There’s a band setting up under the large wooden pergola, and the palm trees are all lit with warm, twinkling lights.

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